The change is needed in the database it's not just for display purposes. There is too much data to try and make the change directly in the database itself it would be easier and less time consuming if there is a way to make the change in SQL to the database.

There can be a number of reasons for doing this - everything from having no front end application, or having only a thin client front end. Even in case insensitive collations, while logical comparisons are case insensitive, the storage itself is case sensitive.